Congress' Barkha Singh says Rahul Gandhi unfit to lead party

She said Rahul Gandhi is reluctant to address issues that exist within the party.

New Delhi, April 20: In another setback to the Delhi Congress just ahead of the civic polls due on Sunday, Barkha Singh on Thursday quit as the party's women's wing chief in Delhi. She also hit out at vice president Rahul Gandhi and the party's Delhi unit chief Ajay Maken.

"Congress party under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and Ajay Maken has only used the issue of empowerment of women and women security to gather votes. The issue means nothing to them," the former Delhi Commission for Women chief said.

"In an organisation where I myself am unsafe, how will I empower other women in that organisation? That is why I hereby resign from the post of president of Delhi Mahila Congress," she added.

Singh even quoted other senior party leaders questioning party vice president's capabilities, saying: "Rahul Gandhi is unfit to lead the party."

"The one pertinent question we need to ask today is why is Rahul Gandhi in hiding? Why is he scared of meeting his own party members?" Singh said in a statement.

Several senior leaders had quit the party because of that very reason, she said.

"Rahul Gandhi is reluctant to address issues that exist within the organisation. Why does Rahul Gandhi shy away from meeting party leaders who ask him questions," she asked.

"He (Rahul) is only interested in meeting sycophants and not leaders who reason, question and ask," she added.

Describing herself as a loyal soldier of the Congress, Barkha Singh said she would continue to remain that.

"Ajay Maken, Rahul Gandhi's nominee in the party, misbehaved not only with me but also with several office-bearers of the Delhi Mahila Congress. When the same was brought to the notice of Rahul Gandhi, our plea fell on deaf ears," she said.

"It is because of this attitude of Rahul Gandhi and Ajay Maken that as many as five districts presidents and 75 block presidents resigned from the organisation. One of them has also filed a complaint of harassment against Ajay Maken and All India Mahila Congress President Shobha Oza," she added.

IANS